The Victim Empowerment Programs (VEP

THE VICTIM EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (VEP)

The Victim Empowerment Program provides free and confidential services to assist students, faculty, staff and University visitors who have experienced actual or threatened violence. Specially trained counselors provide victim advocacy and comprehensive supportive services to help overcome the effects of trauma from violence, including (but not limited to): assault; battery; relationship abuse (physical, verbal and/or emotional); sexual and/or attempted sexual battery (acquaintance rape, date rape, stranger rape and molestation); stalking (repeated following or harassment); and hate and/or property crimes. Victim advocates support and inform victims of their right to report all offenses to police. However, police reports are not required to receive services.

The Victim Empowerment Program’s role is to provide emotional support and resources to help overcome the effect of the incident(s) and help students be successful in their academic pursuits. VEP provides the following services… • 24-hour crisis support, information, referrals and advocacy

• Supportive crisis counseling to individuals who have been recently victimized

• Assistance with exploration of options and accessing community resources

• Accompaniment to court, meetings, hearings and depositions involving the criminal justice system or FIU student conduct process

• Help facilitating academic accommodations, if needed

FIU Police Department 305-348-2626

• Speaking with instructors, legal representatives, family members, employers, landlords and other campus or community service providers, upon request

• The Victim Empowerment Program also provides an educational programming, social work internships, and training for students interested in participating in our peer educator program, for which students receive hourly pay

• Counselors also assist with University issues, including help with class scheduling, housing, assignment extensions, FIU Student Conduct reports, and any other accommodations that may be needed.

Services are available on both Modesto A. Maidique Campus and Biscayne Bay Campus and are accessible by calling 305-348-2277 24 hours a day.

The Victim Empowerment Program is part of Counseling and Psychological Services, and can be reached by calling 305-348-2277. The office is located in the Student Health Service Complex, Suite 270. An appointment can be made for an advocate to meet with you at any FIU campus by calling 305-348-2277. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; after hours, call the hotline. During office hours, Monday through Friday 8am-5pm; after hours crisis assistance is also available by calling the same number.

Police reports are not required to receive services. Clients are provided with information and options and are free to decide which, if any, course of action they will pursue.

Appointments: Call 305-348-2277 and ask to speak to an Advocate Counselor. Evening appointments are also available.

Emergency Walk-in Hours

Modesto Maidique Campus

Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Emergency After Hours:

Call 305-348-2277

Victimization Education Workshop

– The staff of FIU VEP offers a series of workshops and events that are scheduled at no cost to the FIU Community, upon request. To request a workshop, email advocacy@fiu.edu or call 305-348-2277.

Sexual Assault Prevention Training

As part of our ongoing commitment to promote a safe and healthy University community, all new FIU students are required to complete a Sexual Assault Prevention course that addresses the critical issues of sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. The course also includes an assessment of student attitudes towards sexual and relationship violence, norms, and student history related to these critical issues. For more information, call 305-3483185 or visit: https://studentaffairs.fiu. edu/get-support/victim-empowermentprogram/programs/sexual-assaultprevention-training/index.php

Counseling

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) department provides professional psychological services to FIU students. These services include: walk-in consultation, shortterm individual counseling, couples and group counseling, psychological testing, substance abuse and eating disorder screenings, psycho-educational workshops and much more. Services are offered in a warm, caring environment and are free to all registered students. For more information, please contact one of our two offices:

Modesto Maidique Campus (MMC)

Phone: 305-348-2277 Location: SHS 270 Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC)

Phone: 305-348-2277 Location: WUC 320 Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Off-Campus Security Awareness and Programs

Upon request, the FIUPD provides crime prevention programs emphasizing security measures that these students residing off campus can take to protect themselves. Many students live near campus in privately owned houses or apartments. In Miami-Dade County, there are many law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction for providing police services to these students. There are no officially recognized student organizations with off-campus facilities and, therefore, no monitoring is required.